INFOBESITY & the AI Future of Journalism (My Piece in Times Now)

By transforming newsrooms into faster, more empathetic and engaging spaces, artificial intelligence and immersive storytelling promise to combat information overload and reshape journalism for the better

By Prof Dhiraj Singh

In a 2021 study by Ojaswi Malik et al, the portmanteau term ‘infobesity’ was identified as an emerging condition caused by a regular barrage of TMI—Too Much Information—that instead of improving systems and operations in businesses actually slowed them down. It also left decision-makers struggling to separate the wheat from the chaff.

In the non-business world too, news and social media feeds are making many of us ‘infobese’, or in other words giving us a cognitive overload. So what do we do with all the unhealthy junk that we are compelled to consume through our devices? Because while it does nothing for our mental well-being, it does end up hampering our decision-making capabilities and makes us less discerning about the world around us.

AI Is the Solution, Not the Problem

Surprising as it may sound there is relief on the horizon again in the form of technology. Yes, you heard that right. As newsrooms and content creators get more and more familiar with AI and new technologies the way content is produced and presented is going to change for the better. The integration of Artificial Intelligence and cutting-edge technologies promises to transform journalism into a more accurate, engaging and immersive experience. The newsroom of the future is being envisioned as a dynamic hub where AI-driven tools automate routine reporting, fact-checking and content curation.

Enhancing Accuracy and Speed

Because AI algorithms can analyze vast data pools in real-time, identifying trending topics, spotting misinformation and even drafting initial reports will help journalists to navigate huge amounts of information without getting overwhelmed. Natural language processing that enables automated transcription of interviews, translation and summarization will also make news production faster and more accessible across regions and in different languages.

Immersive Storytelling Through AR and VR

Another exciting future that is likely to make news and current affairs storytelling even better than movies is Immersive Storytelling. Imagine the newsroom of a not-so-distant future where viewers with AR glasses or VR headsets will be able to step into a story. Visualizing a conflict zone, exploring environmental changes or experiencing a historical event firsthand.

Peek into the Futuristic Newsroom

In this future landscape, a journalist might prepare a report by leveraging AI to parse through decades of archival footage, while viewers, using VR could virtually walk through a refugee camp or a climate-affected region during a live broadcast. AR overlays could offer real-time data, maps or expert insights, enriching our understanding almost instantly.

Why This Matters

This technological future not only makes news more engaging, but also gives an all-round understanding of the four ‘W’s and ‘H’. When viewers can immerse themselves into stories, their understanding deepens, leading to a more informed and empathetic society. Remember nothing equals lived experience and these technologies give viewers exactly just that. What’s amazing in this equation is that the realness of these virtual experiences will cut down on the mindless bingeing and scrolling that’s behind our epidemic of infobesity.

It is Already Happening

Some on-going examples of this can be seen in The New York Times’ 360-VR experience in ‘The Displaced’, a project that immerses viewers into the lives of displaced people and asylum seekers. The BBC too has produced VR documentaries, such as ‘The Turning Forest’, allowing viewers to explore woodland environments in depth. Al Jazeera has also developed VR content to bring to viewers first-hand experience of conflict zones and climate impact-zones.

Bring in the popcorn

The moral in this story is that technology is always empowering only if you overcome the initial bad press. In the context of media and journalism, embracing AI and immersive technologies will not only transform them for the better, but also provide a powerful tool for education, engagement and change. The newsroom of the future promises to be a place where truth is delivered faster, richer and more vividly than ever before—so let’s bring in the popcorn and take our seats!

(Prof Dhiraj Singh is the Deputy Dean, Times School of Media & Head, Centre for Media & Technology, Bennett University)

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